Crane cab



July 28, 1953 I R. F. DEHN 2,646,892

CRANE CAB Y l Filed Dec. 4, 1947 l 4 sheets-sheet 1 a ml l f b JNVENToR.

,Pay 055W BY July 2s, 1953 R, F, DEHN 2,646,892

v CRANE CAB Filed Dec. 4, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, 1953 R. F. DEHN 2,646,892

CRANE CAB Filed Deo. 4, 1947 4 sheets-sheet s July 28, 1953 R. F. DEHN 2,646,892

CRANE CAB Eiledt'nec. 4, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented July 28, I1953 CRANE CAB Roy F. Dehn, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to The Cleveland Crane & Engineering Company, Wicklie, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 4, 1947, Serial No. 789,645

6 claims. l

. The present invention relates to overhead operators enclosures or cabs and, more particularly, to operators cabs for overhead traveling cranes.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved operators enclosure or cab for an overhead traveling crane comprising a rotatable operators seat having the bridge, trolley and hoist controls connected thereto so that they will rotate with the seat.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved cab of the character referred to including a rotatable operators seat and means controlling the rotation of the seat, the actuation of which the operator may control by moving a part or parts of his body.

The invention resides in certain `minstructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an overhead traveling crane embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line S-t of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational View looking from the left of Fig. 2 or the bottom of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectionalr view approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view show-ing the manner of securing the transparent panels to the frame proper;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View approximately on the line 7 1 of Figs. Zand `6;

' Fig. 8 is an enlarged View of a portion of Fig. 4, With portions in section, approximately on the line 8--8 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 9 is asection'al View approximately on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. I

Although the present invention is susceptible of numerous embodiments, it is particularly applicableto overhead traveling cranes and is herein shown and described as embodied in an overhead traveling crane. The construction of the crane, aside from the cab, may be that of any Well-known commercial overhead crane and the showing thereof in the drawings is more or less diagrammatic. Only those parts of the crane are shown and'referred to which are necessary to an understanding of vthe present invention. My copending application S. N. 743,545, filed April 24, 1947, now Patent No. 2,629,500, and the copending application of WilliamfG. `Wehr, S. N. 562,234, filed November 6, 1944, and now issued as Patent No. 2,471,295, relates to the same general subject matter as the present invention and some of the features herein disclosed are claimed in said applications.

Referring to the drawings, the crane shown comprises 'a crane trolley A movable along a crane bridge B, which bridge is, in turn, movable along crane runways comprising rails lil located adjacent to opposite ends of the bridge and xed to the building or structure C within which the crane is housed. The crane trolley A is supported by wheels l l upon rails l 2, l 3 on the bridge B and is adapted to be moved in opposite directions lengthwise of the bridge B by a reversible,

electric, trolley travel motor M located on the trolley and connected to one or more of the wheels l l. The bridge B is adapted to be moved in opposite directions along the crane runway, located at right angles with the length of the bridge, by a reversible, electric, bridge travel motor l5 located on the bridge and connected by mechanism, including a shaft l5, to a plurality of the wheels of the end trucks il, which wheels support the bridge on the rails it of the crane runway. In addition to the trolley travel motor lll, the trolley comprises a reversible, hoist mo'- tor 2G operatively connected to the cable drum 2| by a so-called load brake 22 through which it is adapted to rotate the drum in opposite directions to take up or let out the load cable 23 and, in turn, raise or lower the crane hook 2G carried thereby.

The crane bridge comprises two spaced girders 25, 26 opposite ends of which are supported on the end trucks Il, only one of which is shown, and the construction of the hoist mechanism is such that the load cable 23 extends down,- Wardly between the girders. As is also usually the case with cranes of the character referred to, the bridge is provided with a Walkway along one side for the purpose of facilitating inspection and maintenance of the equipment thereon. As shown, the walkway comprises a floor plate 2l supported upon a plurality of projecting angle'v irons 28 welded to the outside of the left-hand girder, as viewed iin Fig. 2, and a hand rail 3D spaced from the girder. The bridge travel motor I5 is also preferably provided with a solenoid brake 3| or some ,similarv device for helping to control the movement of the bridge.

The actuation of the trolley travel motor I4, the bridge travel motor i5, the hoist motor 201, and the application and release of the brake 3l arev manually controlled from an operators cab D, which cab is an air conditioned, generally cyV lindrical enclosure -or housing having transparent side walls suspended from the bridge adjacent to the middle thereof and offset from the longitudinal centerline of the bridge soK as toV allow the load cable 23 and crane hook 24 to pass thereby. The electrical connections between the man-ually operated control devices which control the actuation of the trolley travel motor I4 and the hoist motor 25, respectively, include conventional trolley conductors and trolley collectors 32, 33 supported on the bridge and trolley, respectively, by brackets 34, 35 and are made in a manner well-known in the art. The operation of the bridge travel motor I and the brake 3| is controlled by foot-operated controllers in the cab.

The cab proper is preferably approximately four or ve feet in diameter and is suspended from the crane bridge with its longitudinal axis extending vertically. As previously stated, the side walls of the cab are largely formed of transparent material so that the operator has substantially an unobstructed view of the area within which the crane operates. As shown, the frame of the cab is made of welded-up structural steel members and steel plates and includes a boxlike member at the top formed by vertically positioned plates 48, 4l, 42 and 43 welded together. The lcab is suspended from the bridge B by bolting the plates 43, 4l to plate-like brackets 44, 45 located immediately to the outside thereof, which brackets are relatively deep and are welded to the outside of the adjacent girder 25 of the bridge. The box-like member and the brackets 44, 45 space the top of the cab proper below the walkway a suflicient distance so that the part of the cab adjacent the girder 25 may project underneath the girder a limited extent.

The cab D is generally cylindrical but has two small, narrow, flat or straight sections of wall, one along the side remote from the bridge and the other where the entrance door is located and comprises a generally cylindrical, top plate 4S welded to the underside of the box-like frame formed by the plates 45 to 43. The top plate 43 projects beyond the box-like frame on their sides and underneath the bridge, as clearly shown in the drawings. The short, straight edge 4? of the top plate 46 is welded to a narrow, vertical plate 48, which forms a part of one wall of the cab proper, and to a semi-tubular, vertical plate 55 which conforms in shape to the curved part of the plate 45. The upper edge of the plate 59 extends slightly above the top plate and the lower edge extends some distance below the top plate. One end of the plate 5B is welded to the plate 48 and the other end to a vertical plate 5l which has the doorway cut therein, which plate 5l is, in turn, welded to the other of the two straight sides of the top plate 46 and to the right-hand edge of the plate 48, as viewed in Fig. 4.

The plates 48, 58 and 5| and a plurality of vertical members 52, 53, 54 form the support or suspension for the iioor structure comprising a circular floor plate 55 reinforced by a circular channel member 56 welded to the periphery of the floor plate adjacent to its edge. Opposite ends of the channel member 55 are welded to a short section of channel 51 projecting beyond the cab proper parallel with the bridge and to the right, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, which forms a support for a rectangular extension 58 of the floor plate 55. In addition to the reinforcing member 56 referred to, the floor plate 55 may be reinforced by a plurality of members 68 underneath the floor plate welded thereto and to the peripheral channel member 58. The inner ends of some or all of the reinforcing members 58 are welded to a boss 6I, which boss is, in turn, welded to the underside of the oor plate 55 and forms a pivot for the radially extending member 82 of a movable platform, designated generally by the referform shown in my above-mentioned copending application and comprises a box-like frame 63 supported for Arotation about the cab proper by the pivoted member 62 and a plurality of rollers 84 connected to the frame 63 and engaging within the channel portion of the member 5%. The movable platform E comprises a floor plate 65 welded to the top of the box frame 63 and is provided with a guard rail 56 around the three outer sides thereof, one portion 6'! of which is hinged Iso that it may be opened when an operator desires to enter or leave the platform and. in turn, the cab proper. 'Ihe platform E is rotatable about the cab proper so that the transparent wall sections, hereinafter referred to, can be readily cleaned. Normally the platform is retained in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 by a hook-like latch 68 which may be released when it is desired to rotate the platform about the periphery of the cab.

The platform E, when in its normal position, aligns horizontally with and adjoins a platform formed by the extension 58 of the floor and a plate 55welded to the top of the channel 51, previously referred to. As shown, the free edges of the extension 58 are preferably reinforced by plates 'l0 welded to the periphery thereof. The open sides of the platform formed by the extension 58 are provided with a guard rail 7| to prevent an operator from falling off. The side of the platform formed by the extension 58 nearest to the movable platform E is provided with a guard chain 'i2 which maybe raised or lowered to permit an operator to enter and leave the platform E. Access to and from the platform, formed by the extension 58, is provided by a ladder 'I3 resting upon the extension 58 and welded thereto and projecting upwardly through an opening 14 in the floor 21 of the walkway. The opening 14 is preferably surrounded by a guard rail 'i5 which cooperates with the guard 30 to eliminate all possibility of an operator accidentally falling through the opening. The guard l5 is provided with a movable section 76 for permitting access to and from the upper end of the ladder 13.

When the movable platform E is in its normal position, it aligns with a folding door 'il hinged to one edge of the doorway formed in the plate 5l. The opposite side of the door is provided with a latch 78 for retaining the same closed. The door comprises steel frames 80 each pro'- vided with a removable, transparent panel 8l. The remaining walls of the cab are formed by four interchangeable, curved panels 82, 83, 84, made of glass or other suitable transparent material. The panels 82 to 85 are detachably secured to the vertical members 52, 53, 54 and the edges of the vertical plates 48, 5i adjacent thereto by members 8?, 88, respectively. The members 8'1 are secured to the members 52, 53, 54 by screws 90 and overlie the adjacent edges of the transparent panels. The members 88 are similarly secured to the plates 48, 5i but are shorter than the members 87 since they overlie merely the edge of one panel adjacent thereto. Members 9i similar to the members 88 are provided around the upper and lower edges of the transparent panels. The edges of the transparent panel members are preferably surrounded by channel-shaped members 92 made of rubber, metal, or the like. If made of metal, a rubber or like member 33 is preferably placed underneath the clamp members to better protect the edges of the transparent panels and prevent the leakage of air therearound'.

l vThe cab includes an operators seat or chair F, the center of which coincides with the center of the4 cab, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The operators chair F comprises a cushion or seat proper |00, a back rest |10I, arm rests m2 [c3 and a foot rest or platform |34 fixed4 with respect to the seat proper, etc., which is rotatable about. an axis coincident with the center of, the cab. As shown, the seat proper is xed to the upper end of a vertical spindle |05 rotatably supported in a bracket |05 fixed to the iioor plate 55 of the cab. The spindle |05 and, in turn, the seat, etc., are adapted to be rotated in opposite directions by a reversible, electric motor icl xed to the floor of the cab and operatively connected' 'to the spindle |05 by a suitable worm and worm .gear Ht; II When seated, the operator has. a

substantially unobstructed Viewv ofthe area. over which the crane Operates and of other cranes which may be operating on the same runway. By leaning forward, the operator can see the crane hook' even though the trolley may be above, the

cab andthe hook a considerable distance therebelow. As will be readily understood, any desired number of controls for the crane may be located in the cab proper. The controls shown vinclude hand-operated, reversing controllers H2, H3, which are xedly secured to the chair E" at opposite sides of the seat Ido and immediately in front of the arm rests I 02, |33 for controlling the trolley travel and hoistv motors,l respectively, and the foot-operated controller Ilfl for controlling the operation of the bridge travel motor.

The brake for the bridge is controlled by the t-readle-operated` switch I I5.

In addition to the lcontrols referred to above, the chair F comprisesv controls for 'actuating the reversi-ble electric motor |07 which rotates the chairin opposite directions. As shown, these controls comprise two pair of push button switches IIE, I'I'I andA Il", Hl" connected to the housings of the controllers |12, I|-3 on 'the sides thereof adjacent to the operator when seated in the chair and to the top of the armrests |02, |03, respectively. The push button switches II'G, |:I6 and I I1, I |-1 are preferably connected in parallel circuits and are solocated that they can 'be actuated by the operator by 'moving his legs into 'and out of engagement with the switches |I jI'i 'i and his elbows or underarmsinto and out ofV engagement withthe switches IIS', I I'i". The construction 'is preferably such that actuation of either of the right-hand switches |'|"'6, I I5 actuates the motor |01 to rotate the lchair to the righ* and actuation of eitherv off the left-hand switches I I1, I=|`-'I1 -actuates the mot-orto rotate the chair tothe lef-t. The connection between the motor and the chair is prefer-ably such that the motor rotates thechar` at a rela-tivelyV slow speed and 'actuates only when one or the other of; the switches I1 i5,

IIFIj or lil-6', ||9'I' is depressedl by the operator. The switches are connected to a commercial; reversible-control-panel for the motor It'l in a ccnventional manner. Either pair ofswitches IIG, |I'I "or v'|'I|, |11 may be omitted, if desired. Alternatively, the switches may be otherwise located, asfor example, the switches I it', il beflocated onthe inside of. the armrests or all l-or parts. ofthe ,armrestsmay constitute thefa'ctuation buttons or members for the-switches. YThe various electrical connections vto the chairFare made by-afleXible-cable-I-I-S comprising a'number of tconductors,"opposite'ends of which are "cone nested to the chair and to a control or junction box |20. If desired, limit switches can be provided for preventing rotation of the chair through 360, thus eliminating the possibility of the operator so actuating the motor |01 to Wrap the cable about the spindle |05.

A portion of the ceiling for the cab proper is formed by a plate or partition provided with a multiplicity of relatively small apertures |25, 'see Fig. 3. The plate or partition |25. is spaced from the top plate 46 by side plates I2l, |28 also provided with a multiplicity of relatively small openings so as to provide a relatively large chamber [3| therebetween and the top plate. The chamber |3| is connected to an air conditioning unit G located on the crane walkway 2l by a. fresh air conduit |32 which is in communication with the chamber through an aperture |33. in the top plate d5. The air conditioning unit. G may be oi' any commercial construction. In addition to the fresh air duct |32 and the per.- forated plates |25, |21, |28 forming a Dart of. the ceiling of the cab proper, the air conditioning. unit includes a return air duct |34 extending from the floor of the cab to a point above the ceiling plate and welded to the Hoor plate 5t and the ceiling plate 35. The lower end of the duct i3d is pro-- vided with an aperture within which a plurality of replaceable air filters |35' are secured. The upper end of the duct |34 which is closed` is connected to the air conditioning unit G by ducts |36 of suitable construction.

Air is continuously circulated through the cabV proper by the air conditioning unit G including a motor-driven fan. The air is iiltered, .humidied or dehumidied as desired; heated or cooled', as desired; or, otherwise conditioned' so that. the atmosphere within the cab may he maintained free of dirt, fumes, and the like and at a4 comiortable temperature.

Preferably the plates |25, |21, |28 are provided with a multiplicity of uniformly spaced,I small holes as with this construction a uniform flow oi air through the cab can be obtained;v in other words, the now will not. be concentrated at one part of the cab. A commercially available plate having uniformly spaced', lg" holes located on 1A staggered centers is Suitable for most purposes. Suiiicient air can. be circulated without producing a noticeable flow in: the cab. With 'plates of this character, the cool air appears to merely settlein the. cab. The flow is so small and uniform that the operator is not conscious of it but nevertheless it is suflicient to cause him to feel cooler than the actual temperature of the air being circulated would indicate or suggest.

As an alternative construction, the area of thel holes in the plates |25, |21, |23 for any given unit of plate area may he varied. In this event,

. the area of the holes is preferably increa-sed toward the front` and side of the cab vaway.` from:v

the operator. This arrangement of: the holes, together with the location of the. air return. opening containing the filters |35- to one. side .of the operatorsseat.produces a concentrated rectly above him and allows maximum circula--Y tion of. air without producing, seriousA drafts..4

The suggested variation in the area of the holes for any given unit of plate area can be obtained by employing holes of uniform size but spaced closer together adjacent the edge of the cab or by having the apertures uniformly spaced but increasing in size toward the edge of the cab. Alternatively the holes directly above and/or behind the operator may be omitted.

The cab shown also includes interlock means, not shown, but similar to that shown in my above-mentioned copending application for Dreventing the opening of the door 80 unless movable platform E is in its normal position infront of the door and for preventing movement of the platform E away from its normal position in front of the door unless the door is closed.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the objects of the invention heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a novel and improved operators cab of the character referred to adapted to be located' at the center of a crane or the like and including air conditioning system which will not subject the operator to undue drafts, a plurality of interchangeable, transparent side Wall panels readily replaceable from the inside of the cab, and a rotatable operators seat or chair which carries all of the required controls and is readily rotatable by the operator to facilitate hi's'view. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and it is my intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an operators cab of the character referred to, an operators seat supported in the cab for rotation relative thereto, power means operatively connected to said operators seat for rotating it in opposite directions, and control devices carried by and rotatable with said operators seat and operatively connected with said power means for controlling actuation of the latter, the said control devices including actuating portions disposed at both sides of said seat for engagement by movement of parts of the body of the operator other than his hands and feet.

2. In an operators cab of the character referred to, an operators seat supported in the cab for rotation relative thereto, power means operatively connected to said operators seat for rotating it in opposite directions, and control devices carried by and rotatable with said seat and operatively connected to said power means for controlling the actuation of the latter, the said control devices including actuating portions disposed at both sides of and adjacent the front of said seat for actuation by side movement of the legs of the operator.

3. In an operators cab of 4the character referred to, an operators seat supported in the cab for rotation relative thereto, arm rests on said seat, power means operatively connected to said operators seat for rotating it in opposite directions, and control devices vcarried 'by and rotatable with said operators seat and operatively connected to said power means for controlling the actuation of the latter, the said control devices including actuating portions carried by said arm rests and positioned for en- 8 gagement by movement of the arms of an 0D- erator.

4. An operators seat for use in a cab of the character referred to comprising means supporting said seat for rotation about a vertical axis, a foot rest rotatable with said seat, arm rests for said seat, control devices carried by said foot rest and operatively connected to power 0D- erated means for controlling the operation thereof, other control devices including handle portions rotatable with said seat and positioned adjacent said arm rests for controlling the operation of other power operated means, power means operatively connected to said operators seat for rotating the same in opposite directions, and manually operable control devices mounted for rotation with said seat and operatively connected with said last-mentioned power means for controlling the actuation thereof, whereby an operator may control .and observe a plurality of different operations from different angular positions of said seat Without leaving the latter.

5. A combination as denned in claim 4 wherein the control devices carried by and rotatable with said operators seat for controlling the actuation of the last mentioned power means, include portions disposed at both sides of said seat and positioned for actuation by movement of parts of the operators body other than his hands and his feet.

6. In a multimotored, electrically operated, overhead traveling crane having a movable bridge, a trolley movably supported on said bridge, hoisting mechanism including a load cable carried by said trolley, individual electric motors for moving said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms, and an operators cab having transparent walls immovably suspended from the bridge of the crane with the longitudinal axis of the cab extending vertically and with said cab oiset with respect to the vertical longitudinal center plane of said bridge so that the load cable of the hoisting mechanism can pass by said cab; the improvement which comprises an operators seat located in said cab and supported for rotation about a vertical axis, an electric motor operatively connected to said seat for rotating it in opposite directions, a foot rest yrotatable with said seat, and control devices fixed with respect to said operators seat for rotation therewith and operatively connected to said electric motors for effecting rotation of said seat and the movement of said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms; certain of said control devices including portions supported on said foot rest for actuation by the feet of the operator, others of said control-devices including'portions at either side of and adjacent the front of said seat for actuation by the hands of the operator, and the remainder of said control devices including portions disposed at either side of said seat and positioned for actuation by movement of parts of the operators body other than his hands or feet.

ROY F. DEI-IN.

References Cited in the rile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 430,487 Shaw June 17, 1890 432,072 Potter July 15, 1890 1,474,809 Anderson Nov. 20, 1923 1,534,271 Koken Apr. 21, 1925 1,959,216 Owen May 15, 1934 2,242,247 Grant May 20, 1941 2,471,295 Wehr May 24, 1949 

